I think I'm suffering from too many basses. Here's the current list:
1963 Precision
2000 MIM Jazz
Epiphone Jack Casady gold top
No-name (Possibly Lotus) P/J Fretless with tapewounds
1970's Univox hollowbody (short-scale)
1964 Gibson EB-0 (short scale)
Rogue VB-100 'Beatle Bass" (short scale)
Gretsch G2202 Electromatic Jr. Jet (short scale)
Squier Bronco bass (short scale)
'63 Danelectro Re-Issue, Surf Green
Aria Diamond (Hi-Flyer) Mosrite copy (short scale)
Applause (Ovation) AE-40 acoustic-electric (short scale)
And today I added a Schecter C-4, the only active bass in the group. I honestly can't play all the instruments I have, but they all have their own appeal. I've decided that since I'm moving from surf music into rock, I can sell the Danelectro and the Aria Musrite copy; at least they'll pay for the Schecter.
I have a tendency to be a collector, but I think that it would help me to spend more time playing the same - or similar - instruments just to eliminate one variable while I play. I have a tendency to miss chord changes, and if fewer things are distracting me, it may help.
I also have a walnut-colored Lyle hollowbody short scale that has been sitting for a few years as a project...I might sell that and just pass on the project. I have a pair of Gretsch Filtertron pickups waiting to go into the Univox hollowbody, so I ought to have a great sounding hollow body bass when that one is together. The pickups in it are OK but pretty undistinguished.
Anyone in a similar situation?
I was, but I'm down to 7 now, from a high of 21. Strangely, I feel better too, as I don't have the added complication of the pre-rehearsal or pre-gig decision making process over which basses to take.
Realistically, if absolutely pressed, I could probably get it down to 3 basses only. Or maybe 4.
If we are strictly keeping to basses I have 10 (soon to be 11) Thats probably about right for me ;) Dont think I need more (yet).
My Schecter:
(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/Freuds_cat/Schecter%20Hellraiser%204/DSC_0433.jpg)
Having lost several to theft a while ago, and also still having several that never get played, I am well aware of the too many feeling. I do have too many. And after recently dealing with the death of my brother - also a musician - I am more aware than ever that we can't take any of these with us. The feeling that you have too many is really something inside you, and I have found it generally positive to heed the impulse. Once you own a great bass, and play it, gig with it, look at it, etc, nothing can take that away from you. So I always encourage people to be able to let them go. Not being able to is not healthy as well, and I suspect some combo of fear of never being able to find another, or having started out with crummy stuff makes many of us hoard them. I have been sorting out what I will keep and what goes up for sale over the past few weeks. It is tough and emotional, but liberating. If you have lots of income and room, you could keep a lot, but even that has a time limit. The truth is you really only need one (when I was 11 I would have given a nut for a real Fender P). Good luck.
Quote from: Freuds_Cat on September 12, 2010, 09:20:36 PM
Also Al, me being pedantic again, I have a similar Schecter. Its a Korean Hellraiser. The pups are passive. Its the Tone circuitry thats active. I suspect yours would be the same.
Yours looks very similar - and you're right, the pickups are passive. Indeed, it's the EQ/tone circuits that are active.
I played it for more than two hours tonight at practice - it's a real pleasure to play.
Quote from: eb2 on September 12, 2010, 09:32:27 PM
.....I always encourage people to be able to let them go. Not being able to is not healthy as well, and I suspect some combo of fear of never being able to find another, or having started out with crummy stuff makes many of us hoard them. ...... The truth is you really only need one (when I was 11 I would have given a nut for a real Fender P). Good luck.
That's right. I spent my high school and college years with one - that old P - and it never let me down. That's a lifelong keeper.
Hah ;D you beat me too it. I read your "New toy" thread and modified my post above accordingly but you replied before I'd finished.
Quote from: Pilgrim on September 12, 2010, 05:20:25 PM
I think I'm suffering from too many basses.
Anyone in a similar situation?
Way too much gear but once I got started. . . . . .
it's hard to know how or when to stop! :o
http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.com/ (http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.com/)
Err. . . . I'll get me coat!!!
(a gag that perhaps won't translate to the other side of the pond)
Kenny, perhaps you might explain. ;)
Now, where did I leave that . . . . . . . . ;D
Can you post some pics of the basses you wanna sell?
And I'm curious about the shortscale Gretsch. Pics please!
Hmmmmm.........too many basses? I'll have to think about that concept for a bit.
34 at the moment, not counting bits and pieces waiting for assembley. Two are going up for sale this week.
Too many basses? Is there such a thing?
You don't even have 1 Rickenbacker, so you need at least one more.
My criterion to keep bass'es is if I play them regularly or in 1 instance (my first Rick, a 4000) emotional attachment.
If you know the exact number it's not too many.
i'm down to two. but then i always have two so i guess i'm not down at all.
pilgrim you can sell everything but the 1963 p bass. that will do ya'.
Two acoustics and two electrics for me 8). I tend to get in to an instrument for while and play nothing else. Just really get into it ya know. Too many basses just screws me up ???
Rick
I have 10 basses and one in the making.
That is too many I know. But I really love them all.
I recognize the pre-gig stress (of choosing which ones to take) that Aussie Mark mentions.
I do have a few of them that I haven't taken to gigs lately, because they shoud be serviced. The Epi JCS has a loose contact. And that one is a bitch to wire, so I haven't found the patience to start that job...
And the Les Paul Employee build/Prototype has very scratchy pots and a loose contact in the jack too. I can't change the pots 'cause they are a very rare impedance of 2.5 K.
Wow, I just realized I've got 11, not counting the double neck guitar/bass I'm going to sell soon. :)
Rickenbacker 4003S
Rickenbacker 4003S/8
Rickenbacker 4001CS
Gibson Les Paul Standard
BaCHbird
Fenderbird
Guild Pilot 5
Guild JS II
Kramer fretless
Hamer B12S
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass
Quote from: dadagoboi on September 13, 2010, 06:40:40 AM
If you know the exact number it's not too many.
exactly.. i lost count at about 120. Thanks to 2 kids in college I am down about 15 since first of year but still way too many....I will be selling some more....
At any given moment 15+ are in some state of tune-up/ renovation and about 15+ are warmothy type which are never actually finalized until everything is just right regarding the wood combinations and the pickup/circuit stuff....
Gig rotation is "only" about 30-35 so pre-gig stress is a normal event for me.... and if it is a new venue with unknow issues even more stress is required. i sing some leads and lots of backup so electronic issues in some dumpy places cause me to bring a "safe" self grounding active pickup bass (emg's, Alembics ) along with more traditional passive pickup basses ( whether active or not).
Yeah, I need more room!
Brice violin bass(LH)
Casio keyboard
Casio keyboard
Danelectro Longhorn bass copperburst
Danelectro Longhorn bass blueburst
Davison Hollowbody bass(LH)
Dean Pace electric upright bass
Douglas EB-2 bass
Eastwood EEB-1 bass(LH)
Epiphone AJ-1 acoustic guitar
Epiphone EB-O bass(LH)
Epiphone Flying V bass
Epiphone Rivoli bass
Epiphone SG Jr. guitar
Fender Jazz Bass(LH)white
Fender Jazz Bass(LH)electron blue
Fender Jazz Bass(LH)sunburst
Fender Jazz Bass FSR(LH)sonic blue
Fender P-Bass Special(LH)
Fender mandolin
Fender Stratocaster(LH)
First Act drum kit
Galveston clear acrylic bass(LH)
Gibson EB-2 bass(Stereo)
Gold Tone banjo(LH)
Gretsch Synchromatic BassVI 6-string bass(LH)
Hamer B12S 12-string bass
Hammertone electric mando-guitar
Hiwatt Theremin
Hofner 500/1 V63 reissue Beatle Bass(LH)
Ibanez ASB140 bass
Ibanez GSR200L bass(LH)
Ibanez Jazz Bass(LH)
Jay Turser Telecaster guitar(LH)
Jerry Jones Longhorn Bass
Jerry Jones Longhorn BassVI 6-string bass
Jerry Jones Master electric sitar
Kona acoustic bass guitar
Peavey Millennium BXP bass(LH)
Phantom "Nigel Special" bass(LH)
Phantom BW Teardrop Hollowbody Bass
Rickenbacker 340 guitar(LH)
Rickenbacker 4001CS bass(LH)
Rickenbacker 4001S bass(LH)
Rickenbacker 4003 bass(LH)
Squier P-Bass Special(LH)sunburst
Squier P-Bass Special(LH)ant. sunburst
Steinberger L2 bass(Previously Owned by Dee Murray)
SX Jazz Bass(LH)
SX Jazz Bass-Fretless(LH)
SX P-Bass(LH)
SX P-Bass short-scale(LH)
SX P/J-Bass(LH)
SX Scorpion Bass(LH)
Yamaha BB300L(LH)
Yamaha BB614L bass(LH)
Yamaha electronic drums
Dang. I knew there were some collections here...but....dang!
:-[
B&CH TH-1 Sonic Blue
Danelectro Longhorn
Dean DOA 2004 V Bass Limited Edition
Dean Razorback V 2008
Epiphone Newport 1966
Epiphone Embassy 1966
Epiphone Scroll Bass 1976
Epiphone Genesis 1979
Epiphone Thunderbird Non-Reverse 5-String
Epiphone Jack Casady Signature
Epiphone Les Paul Special Prototype (neck-thru, quilted maple top) 1999
Epiphone Elitist EB-3 2003
Epiphone Explorer
Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat Signature 2005
Epiphone Gothic Extreme Bass 2005
Epiphone Thunderbird IV Arctic White Limited Edition 2006
Epiphone Ripper Limited Edition Prototype 2006
Epiphone Ripper Limited Edition 2006
Epiphone Nikki Sixx Signature Blackbird 2007
Epiphone Ltd Ed Silverburst Thunderbird IV (with Gibson TB-Plus pups) 2009
Epiphone T-Bird Pro V 2009
Epiphone Zenith 2010
Fender Precision Bass 1953 Reissue - Sting Signature
Fender Precison Bass 1962 US Vintage Reissue
Fender Jazz Bass MiM 60ies Reissue
Framus-144 (09041) Sorento 4
Gene Simmons Punisher
Gibson EB-1 1953
Gibson EB-2 Banjo Headstock 1959
Gibson EB-0 Double Cutaway Les Paul Junior Body 1959/60
Gibson EB-6 (ES-330/335 Hollowbody) 1961
Gibson EB-0F 1963
Gibson EB-6 (SG Body) 1964
Gibson Reverse Thunderbird II 1964
Gibson Reverse Thunderbird IV 1965
Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird II 1966
Gibson Non-Reverse Thunderbird IV 1967
Gibson EB-2D 1967
Gibson Melody Maker EB-0 1967
Gibson EB-2 1968
Gibson Les Paul Recording Bass 1969
Gibson EB-1 Reissue 1969
Gibson Slothead EB-0 1969/70
Gibson Slothead EB-3 1969/70
Gibson Slothead EB-0L (+ 2 TB Plus Pickups) 1969/70
Gibson SB-300 1970-72
Gibson SB-400 1970-72
Gibson EB-0 1970-72
Gibson EB-3L 1972
Gibson EB-4 1970-72
Gibson Singlecut Ripper Prototype 1972-73
Gibson Les Paul Signature 1973-75
Gibson SB-350 1973-75
Gibson SB-450 1973-75
Gibson Les Paul Triumph 1973-75
Gibson Ripper 1974
Gibson Grabber "Grabber Blue"-one off 1974
Gibson L-9S Ripper Fretless 1976
Gibson Thunderbird IV Bicentennial 1976
Gibson Grabber Fretless 1976
Gibson EB-3 1976
Gibson RD Standard 1977
Gibson G-3 Maple Fretboard 1978
Gibson RD Artist 1979
Gibson Ripper 1981
Gibson Flying V 1981
Gibson Victory Standard 1981
Gibson Victory Standard Fretless 1981
Gibson RD Artist ACB w/CMT 1981
Gibson G-3 Ebony Fretboard 1982
Gibson Victory Custom 1982
Gibson Victory Artist 1982
Gibson Explorer Korina Custom-Built 1982/83
Gibson Explorer Shadow (Piezo) 1986
Gibson Explorer 1986
Gibson Thunderbird II Japan Limited Edition 1986
Gibson IV Bass 1987
Gibson V Bass 1987
Gibson V Bass w/Kahler Tremolo 1987
Gibson 20/20 1987
Gibson Wayne Charvel Prototype Bass IV String 1987
Gibson Wayne Charvel Prototype Bass V String 1987
Gibson Q-80 1987
Gibson Q-90 Shadow (Piezo) 1988
Gibson Q-90 Combo 1989
Gibson Thunderbird VI One-Off Korina Model built by Phil Jones 1990 (based on discarded 1981 prototype)
Gibson Explorer West Coast Custom Shop?, "early nineties"
Gibson EB-650 1991
Gibson Les Paul Doublecutaway Phil Jones Prototype Fretless 1991
Gibson EB-750 1992
Gibson LPB-1 (passive) 1992
Gibson LPB-1/5 Les Paul Special (5-String) 1993
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Meshell Ndegeocello Prototype 1994
Gibson LPB-3/Standard 8-string Custom Shop T.M. Stevens signature model 1994
Gibson LPB-2/5 Les Paul Deluxe (5-String) 1995
Gibson LPB-2 Les Paul Deluxe Fretless 1996
Gibson SG Long Scale Bass (one-off item) 1997
Gibson Thunderbird IV 1997
Gibson Les Paul Smartwood Series (peroba top/curupay board) 1997
Gibson Leland Sklar Signature 1998
Gibson AB Super 400 Archtop 1999
Gibson Blackbird Nikki Sixx Signature 2000
Gibson SG-Z Cherry 2000
Gibson SG-Z Ebony with Mudbucker 2001
Gibson Les Paul EMG Splitcoil Custom Shop Bass 2001
Gibson Primavera Custom Shop Bass 2001
Gibson Les Paul Standard "Custom" Bass 2003
Gibson SG Reissue 2005
Gibson Thunderbird Studio 4-String 2005
Gibson Les Paul Doublecut 2005
Gibson Thunderbird Studio 5-String 2006
Gibson Thunderbird IV Gothic - Limited Edition 2006
Gibson "Guitar of the Week" SG Supreme Natural Satin Flametop 2007
Gibson "Guitar of the Week" Les Paul Money Bass 2007
Gibson "Guitar of the Week" Thunderbird IV Zebra Wood 2007
Gibson Les Paul Faded Limited Edition Flat Top Bass Guitar 2007
Gibson "Guitar of the Week" SG Supreme Fireburst Flametop 2007
Gibson "Guitar of the Week" Les Paul Money Natural Satin Flametop 2007
Gibson Thunderbird IV Nikki Sixx Signature Model 2008
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Bass built by Dr Bassman from Gibson body/neck 2008
Gibson 2009 Limited Run Series Grabber II 2009
Gibson 2009 Limited Run Series Ripper II 2009
Gibson Les Paul BFG Bass Ltd. Ed. with three pickups 2010
Gould Rebel B 330 5-String
Greg Rupp GR-T 5-String
Guild B 301-A
Höfner 500/1 Beatle Bass
Höfner HA-B03 Acoustic Bass
Hotwire Funderbird 2005
Hoyer Eagle
Ibanez Rocket Roll (Flying V)
Ibanez Iceman ICB 300
Ibanez Iceman ICB 500
Ibanez Iceman ICB 200
Ibanez Iceman ICB 300 EX
Ibanez Iceman ICB08-Ltd Flag Candy Apple
Ibanez ATK 700
Ibanez SDB1 Sharlee D'Angelo Signature Iceman
Italia Mondial
Kalamazoo KB 1 "Made by Gibson" 1967
Kramer XKB-10
Kubicki Factor
Martin BC-15E
Music Man Stingray Fishman Piezo
Music Man Bongo HH 2003
Musicvox Space Cadet 12-String
Orville by Gibson Thunderbird IV 1991
Ovation Magnum II
Parker Fly Bass
Peavey T-40
Reverend Brad Houser 5-String
Rickenbacker 4001 1977
Rickenbacker 4005 1979
Rickenbacker 4003
Rickenbacker 4003S/5
Rickenbacker 4003S/8
Status Shark 5-String
Status Stealth II 5-String
Tonfuchs Sport Bass "Extremsport"
Wal Mk 1 1988
Warwick Fortress Flashback 5-String
Washburn AB-20
Yamaha Attitude X 10th Anniversary Billy Sheehan Signature Limited Edition 2000
Yamaha RBX4 A2 A.I.R. (Alternative Internal Resonance) Electric Bass 2007
:o So Uwe, you're living in a mansion .......... right ? ;D
I've "only" got 9 ......
Fender Precision (1972)
Fender 40th Anniversary Precision ( CS-1991 )
Robin Ranger Bass
Squier VM Precision TB ( aka Tele Model II - modded with 2nd Seth Lover HB PUP )
Epiphone Rivoli ( Korean - TB+ Sidewinder PUP )
Gibson SG Standard HC
DeArmond Starfire ( Dark Star PUPs )
Squier Vista Musicmaster
Ibanez ARTB-100 ( modded with ChiSonic PUPs )
I used to! :mrgreen: After the separation from my soon-to-be former wife it's now a very large apartment!!! :)
But I have no regrets, especially since Edith/soon-to-be new Ms Hornung does bequeath new goodies to my collection in regular intervals. Well informed sources tell me she's keeping a Lace Helix locked away for my birthday in November.
(http://www1.gitarrebass.de/magazine/2008/11/188.jpg)
I always thought those looked cool and the Lace pup concept intrigued me, they sound well too, very organic.
Some logistical issues are easened by the fact that I only keep the Gibbies and Epis in the office, the other stuff at home.
Uwe
I will have to make a detailed list one of these days.
I noticed that you guys have stayed away from the insanely priced "boutique" stuff. I can't say the same here.... although boutique basses is a term too widely used. to me buying a smith or alembic bass off store shelf is not the same as picking woods, pups etc at a shop like fodera and waiting 2 years to get it.
Quote from: uwe on September 13, 2010, 10:26:52 AM
Some logistical issues are easened by the fact that I only keep the Gibbies and Epis in the office, the other stuff at home.
Ah ! That explains a lot ....... ;D
Quote from: uwe on September 13, 2010, 10:16:15 AM
Ibanez Rocket Roll (Flying V)
Ibanez Iceman ICB 300
Ibanez Iceman ICB 500
Ibanez Iceman ICB 200
Ibanez Iceman ICB 300 EX
Ibanez Iceman ICB08-Ltd Flag Candy Apple
Ibanez ATK 700
Ibanez SDB1 Sharlee D'Angelo Signature Iceman
No Destroyer?
My paltry collection consists of:
Dano '63 RI (2008)
G&L LB100 (2000 or so)
Fender Precision Bass (1974)
Epi NR (Korea, 1993)
Epi T-bird (Korea, 2006)
Epi T-bird (Korea, 2006)
Epi T-bird (Japan, 2008)
Gibson Ripper (1973)
Gibson Ripper (1980)
Gibson Victory Standard (1984)
BaCH NR TH-1 (thin body, black)
BaCH NR TH-2 (2010)
Rickenbacker 4001 (1976)
Fenderbird ('76 body w/'74 P-bass neck)
I was thinking about thinning out but the only thing I can think of is selling off one of the Korean T-birds. That would net me, what? About $150? And that's the perfect one. The scruffy one I paid $85 for...
I'm at 15.....
1976 Thunderbird C/P Green
1977 Thunderbird C/P Purple
1977 Thunderbird F/P Black
1977 Greco Thunderbird II
1977 Ibanez Thunderbird
1989 Thunderbird IV Classic White
? Orville Thunderbird C/P Seafoam Green
2009 Lull Thunderbird II
2009 Nikki Sixx Mk. II Thunderbird
2009 Epiphone "Fenderbird
2009 BacH N/R Thunderbird II
2010 BacH N/R Thunderbird II
? Baz Cooper N/R 8 string
1993 Jackson "TBX" Thunderbird
And a Washburn AB20 :)
They don't all fit in one room of my house!
Quote from: Bert on September 13, 2010, 11:22:24 AM
No Destroyer?
Naw, I prefer the Iceman shape to either the Destroyer or Explorer one. It's more elegant and doesn't scream "Metal!" quite as much.
Coingratulations Uwe! When will you merry her?
I played those Lace basses. Great looks, great sound, good value for money!
Quote from: uwe on September 13, 2010, 10:26:52 AM
But I have no regrets, especially since Edith/soon-to-be new Ms Hornung does bequeath new goodies to my collection in regular intervals. Well informed sources tell me she's keeping a Lace Helix locked away for my birthday in November.
Uwe
Will be curious to hear what you think of the Lace set up from the factory. Mine (a first run, maybe that was the problem) was close to unplayable without major bridge saddle filing...but those pups are amazing. "Organic" is a very good way to describe them.
1965 Gibson Reverse Thunderbird II Pelham Blue (Taking it to the Grave!!!)
1965 Gibson Reverse Thunderbird IV Polaris White
1989 Orville By Gibson Reverse Thunderbird IV Sunburst with black metal pickups/Chrome/Nickel hardware (Impulse Buy)
Custom Hamer FB XII Reverse Thunderbird IV 12 sting bass-Inverness Green with 2 black Gibson Thunderbird Pup's
(Custom soon to be made) Hamer FB VIII Reverse Thunderbird II 8 String Bass-Metal Flake Blue with 1 1960's Chrome Gibson T Bird Pickup
What I want.....If...I had money.......
1968-71 Gibson EB-1 Reissue bass
Slab Board Jazz and Precision Bass
Dot Neck Rickenbacker bass-V63
Rickenbacker 8 string.
But honestly, I have been trying to downsize the collection. I could live with just the 2 1965 Thunderbirds.
I'm VERY BLESSED TO HAVE THOSE 2 BASSES.
What I may do in a few months...Sell the Hamer 12 string Thunderbird.....and the Orville......and buy a Gibsopn EB-1 Violin bass. I want the reissue, not the original. Both the 12 and the Orville sound AWESOME!!!!!!!
I forgot...I'd like to get another Guild Jetstar bass.
I thought Uwe might post a list...
...but I didn't know whether to fear that or to look forward to it.
Dang. WHAT a list!
Yeah, really. But what the hell...He's got money...and that is one hell of an awesome collection that He has. I'd love to get that Korina bird and the EB-1 that was refinned cherry by Felix!!
Man... finally got done scrolling past Uwe's list. Whew... ;D You guys have some nice collections!
I tend to go through phases where I'll completely immerse in one or two basses, and I've collected them more for their interesting/unique sounds. My favorites are in bold:
> 1966 Gibson EB-2DC
> 1969 Gibson EB-3
> 1972 Guild JS-II w/Dark Star pickups and custom "Alembicized" harp bridge w/sustain block
> 1973 Gibson Triumph
> 1976 Gibson Thunderbird
> 1978 Rickenbacker 4001
> 1980 Ibanez ST-980 eight string
> 1981 Roland G-88 bass
> 1983 Musicman Stingray fretless (w/79 Sabre neck on it)
> 1983 Alembic Distillate
> 1986 Aria SB-Elite II
> 1986 Peavey Dynabass (gave this to my dad when he started playing again)
> 2009 BaCH Non-reverse Thunderbird
> Ampeg AEB-1 scroll (w/Rio Grande Pitbull)
> Christopher 3/4 upright with Underwood transducer
The ones that I'd get rid of first are the basses with a sound that doesn't really stand out on its own as being "different". I sold my Ovation Magnum-I not long ago, and think about selling the Ampeg and Roland. These basses play and sound great, but why bother with them if I can get similar enough sounds out of other basses.
Funny thing is that I'm not really seeking any others! I sometimes get the urge to sell off the Ampeg and replace it with a CIJ Precision (maybe do a cool finish on it - loved that burgundy mist one that was posted a while back). I also sometimes think that I want to swap out the Ibanez 8str with a Ric 4003s/8, only because I feel the Ric sound really complements the 8 IMO - but I love the Ibanez, so I'm in no rush...
Since we're listing our herds, here's mine
1971 or 72 Gibson Les Paul Triumph
1997 Epiphone Rivoli (with Dimarzio Model 1 pickup)
2006 Gibson SG Standard
2006 Musicman 30th Anniversary Stingray
2008 Nash Guitars PB63
2009 Musicman Big Al SSS
"Bayou Cables" Precision (with Dark Star)
Here is my little herd. After looking at Uwe's list, I don't feel so compulsive anymore!
1959 Gibson EB-2
1964 Gibson EB-0F
1967 Gibson EB-2C
1968 Gibson EB-2DC
1968 Gibson EB-0
1969 Gibson EB-3
1969 Gibson EB-1
1970 Gibson Les Paul Bass
1972 Gibson EB-4L
1972 Gibson Les Paul Triumph
1973 Gibson Les Paul Triumph
1974 Gibson Les Paul Signature Bass
1978 Gibson RD Artist Bass
1987 Gibson 20/20
20?? S102 Acoustic Bass
I do have too many basses:
1966 Gibson Non-reverse Thunderbird II I've owned since 1969 broken, repaired and modified.
1968 Gibson Non-reverse Thunderbird II with broken headstock
BaCH Non-reverse Thunderbird Blue, the first one landed in the States, unmodified
BaCH Non-reverse Thunderbird Black, ex-Hornisee, modified to perfection
1986 Rickenbacker 4001V63
2007 Gibson "Guitar of the Week" Les Paul Midnight Money Bass
1983 Fender Precision
2008 Fender Precision
Carvin TBS4
Carvin LB20
Carvin B4
Carvin B4K soon to be sporting dual Dimarzio Model 1s.
I'll be selling the 83 P and TBS4 when I get motivated.
Now don't anyone start a thread about too many amps.
Quote from: Aussie Mark on September 13, 2010, 05:14:17 PM
Since we're listing our herds, here's mine
1971 or 72 Gibson Les Paul Triumph
1997 Epiphone Rivoli (with Dimarzio Model 1 pickup)
2006 Gibson SG Standard
2006 Musicman 30th Anniversary Stingray
2008 Nash Guitars PB63
2009 Musicman Big Al SSS
"Bayou Cables" Precision (with Dark Star)
Didn't you have more Nash's than that Mark?
On Uwe's list: I now feel quite inadequate :P Oh and Congrats BTW :)
Quote from: Freuds_Cat on September 13, 2010, 07:10:05 PM
Didn't you have more Nash's than that Mark?
Yes, I had 3 until this year. Sold the '51 because it wasn't getting any playing time (as nice as it was), and sold the other '63 because apart from finish colour it was exactly the same as the other '63 I have. It's all good though, since I used the proceeds from those sales to buy the Triumph, another cab and a wireless.
Well, you guys have convinced me not to go too nuts selling basses. I think I'll sell that JBL D130F speaker gathering dust upstairs - it will pay for the new Schecter bass, or some pretty close.
I currently have 5, three 4 bangers and 2 fivers. I only use one fiver all of the time and the other is strictly backup. If I can find another DR Heartfield 5 string bass I will buy it.
I've decided that dammit, if I want a bass and I can afford it, I'll get it and keep it until I decide to unload it. I may have to spread it out a bit after helping #2 daughter with college tuition this month, though.
I hear ya. I had a daughter graduate from UT Austin 2 years ago. And Austin City Council decided to raise property taxes yet again. I paid nearly 4k last year!! (could have bought a bunch of basses :))
That must have been first production hiccups, mine was well set-up at a store that normally doesn't set up well at all. Might have been coincidence. One of the controls was a little crackly, but that bass has been around in that shop for at least two years (which is why they now cut price quite a bit). Outlandish design & not a name brand is a sure guarantee for slow-moving stock.
IMHO the Lace basses only exist as a platform - albeit an original one -to make those pups known to the wider public in an initial phase. Once those pups are accepted by other makers (some German boutique bass makers are using them), then those basses are going to disappear. What I liked about the Lace was curiously the hugeness of the neck - four- and five-string versions share the same mansize neck - and while I generally don't like wide necks, I liked how substantial this one sounded and felt. And the overall look of the bass reminds me of a "Back to the Future"-version of the Ovation Magnum.
As regards my collection ... - it is admittedly oversized, I have, however, been restraining myself somewhat this year ...
Re the Lace being a 'platform'...that's what I thought. I was disappointed in the overall package for ergonomic reasons: neck dive (no problem around here ;D) and difficult to play sitting down. I like my setup very low, that may have been the perceived saddle problem. Had some of the exact saddles already filed from another project so that was easily fixed. It was also the bolt on single pup version, I could have shimmed the neck. I sent mine back, ordered a Lace Bassbar and built a bass for the pup.
Here's what I currently have:
'63 Epiphone Embassy (back in the fold after a 7 year vacation...)
'81 G&L L-1000
Epiphone ET-288M w/Bartolini's
Johnson Scroll Bass #66
BaCH TH-1
'68(?) Magnatone Hurricane
Epiphone EB-1 (currently residing with my son in corn country)
Bettie Page bass (mahogany Precision body, Lollar pickup, fanfret Novax neck)
Parts for the next fan fret project (some I still need to get) - chambered maple/mahogany body, Novax neck, Dark Star neck pickup, Ric bridge pickup.
Frankenstein P-Bird
1976 Thunderbird
1972 EB-3
1968 EB-0
1998 Epi EB-0
1970? Dan Armstrong
1984 Squier SQ series MIJ P-Bass
Squier Classic Vibe 60s P-Bass
1993 Fender J-Bass
2002 Fender J-Bass
1998 Fender P-Bass Special
OLP MM2
SX P-Bass
SX PJ Bass
SX 75 J-Bass
SX "57" J-Bass
Kramer Ferrington ABG
Ovation CC074 Celebrity ABG
Quote from: Hörnisse on September 13, 2010, 09:25:27 PM
I hear ya. I had a daughter graduate from UT Austin 2 years ago. And Austin City Council decided to raise property taxes yet again. I paid nearly 4k last year!! (could have bought a bunch of basses :))
Yeah - ain't it a shame when silly things like property ownership eat into your bass budget??? ;)
I must have the least number of basses of anyone on this forum. But, I don't collect, they're not investments and I'm pretty unsentimental about them. As long as they do the job, that's ok; as soon as they don't, they're gone. Well, maybe not as soon as - after a short delay due to deeply repressed shreds of regret.
So there's an MIJ standard P that isn't going anywhere, it'll be cremated with me. A Dearmond Starfire that fills the semi-acoustic short scale slot, not that there is one, but I've convinced myself there might be. And a 51 RI P that's in the looks nice, plays well, but doesn't really sound right category, which is where most of my basses have ended up. If I buy the black Ripper that's chasing me, the 51 might well go.
The white Epi Tbird I was very excited about when it arrived, lasted to the first gig. Just wasn't me, I felt silly with it. I felt guilty about not giving it more of a chance, but it went to Australia for twice what I paid for it, so then I didn't feel so bad.
I'm a Gemini, does that explain anything? (provide scientific proof of course.)
"I'm a Gemini, does that explain anything?"
Depends on which one of you two we ask.
Quote from: PhilT on September 14, 2010, 11:13:30 AM
I'm a Gemini, does that explain anything? (provide scientific proof of course.)
I thought that meant I had to have as many
different basses as posible. ;-)
Nope... being another Gemini the conflict would occur with "which one should I use?" which is why I almost always take two (one each, of course) but being another small-herd person, less is safer - less choice... "decisions, decisions..."
Hohner Jack (potentially doomed to be defretted - I need a second one)
Gibson RD artist (defretted)
Peter Cook Custom
Squier Jazz
I have a major dilema at the moment - work is very quiet... I have two amps - a wrecked '68 Marshall (pending major rebuild costs) and a '70 Hiwatt (pending minor repairs) - I need to get a reliable back-up rig, so it looks like the Marshall's gotta go... :sad: again, a set of two items...
Re Eric's "Err... I'll get my coat..." - try and think of one of those moments when you really wish you hadn't said or done what you'ld just said or done... you know, when you wish the floor would open up and swallow you...
I think Al's question bears a little redress............
Could I have (too many basses) ?
No....................... ;)
I love basses, if I could afford a larger collection I would unhesitatily continue buying them.
I still need an RD.
You wouldn't want mine... ;D
Mark having only ever seen pics of you with a T-bird I have a very hard time imagining you with an RD.
I'm a Gemini, too.
Perhaps that explains some things.
My wife says that when she married me, the one thing she was confident about was that life wouldn't be boring. She says that so far, I've made good on that expectation.
Just had a read through this lot. . . . . . .
STREWTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o
There's some tasty stuff there!!
I think on sheer numbers, Uwe wins - We are not worthy!! :)
There is, however, one small question . . . . . How many have
you gigged, recorded or rehearsed with?
I have a hell of a job deciding what to take out - with your lot,
if you gigged every week of the year, except Christmas week - you
would need a break, taking a different bass to every gig, it would take
over three years!!!!!!!!!! ???
Answers on a post card! ;D
Cheers. :)
I am a Gemini also. Maybe that explains my compulsion to collect Gibson guitar and bass twins.... :o
The mating guitar is usually the more expensive of the two. I still need the Thunderbird / Firebird combo, that will cost me plenty for not getting them ten years ago............. :sad:
I have gigged with most over the years and rehearsed with them all. There is not a single bass I own I don't play once in a while (some more often and gladly of course). I keep them all in playable, freshly-strung (I go through a lot and always have at least 50 sets of various makers stocked), intonated, truss-rod set up and - if need be - repaired state. Not to forget my trademak Heriba pick stuck underneath the strings near the nut! :mrgreen:
At rehearsals, I generally have four different basses with me, at gigs sometimes less. The issue I encountered when my herd was much smaller (there was a time when I had four basses only for almost a decade) that changing from one bass to another took time to settle in, doesn't happen anymore these days, it doesn't really take more than a minute to adjust from one bass to another.
Tonight, we'll do an unplugged rehearsal to test out guitar arrangements for our current recordings. I'll take my hollowbody EB-6 with me. That is not only my most expensive bass (10.000 Dollars at the time), but alsos one that doesn't see action all too often (not because of the value, but because of the limited use of a six-string in the music I play). But it will be handy tonight as I can ape guitar on it and throw off ideas with the guitarist.
Uwe used the "G" word - shame on you... >:( ;)
Quote from: uwe on September 15, 2010, 06:11:35 AM
The issue I encountered when my herd was much smaller that changing from one bass to another took time to settle in, doesn't happen anymore these days, it doesn't really take more than a minute to adjust from one bass to another.
Thats actually a really good point. I'd be very interested in hearing peoples opinions on this.
I was the same as Uwe way back when I gigged with 2 basses for years. My #2 bass was really only a backup and rarely got played. When it did the transition was a bit uncomfortable for at least a song or two.
These days I gig with at least 3 and usually 4 basses.
What I've found is that certain songs prefer different basses and even when I change basses its like my head/fingers are already expecting the feel and tone of that bass. So the transition is almost seamless.
The ironic part is when I go back to using my Jazz bass on a song that has demanded the Woody bass, that is when it feels uncomfortable. And dont even think about replacing the fretless on that bass' songs! :o
I had two basses when I was playing for a living. It was primarily as a backup, but I always made a point to play it at some point during each show. I wish I had kept one of my backup basses - a flawless Guild M-85 semi-hollowbody. I sold that one, which led me to the Embassy, so I guess it was a good deal.
My main bass for the past couple of years has been the Bettie Page fanfret, but I always bring a spare, and usually dedicate a full set to using it (I also rotate the spare). Now that the Embassy is back with me, we'll see how the rotation goes. For the first time ever, I'm actually quite conscious of where I play, and hesitate to bring out certain basses. The Scroll bass stays at home with the exception of one or two clubs that I feel comfortable bringing it to.
My indie band is recording next week, and I plan to have 3 basses with me for that - Epiphone Embassy, Bettie Page fanfret and the Scroll bass.
Quote from: Freuds_Cat on September 15, 2010, 05:54:59 PM
Thats actually a really good point. I'd be very interested in hearing peoples opinions on this.
I was the same as Uwe way back when I gigged with 2 basses for years. My #2 bass was really only a backup and rarely got played. When it did the transition was a bit uncomfortable for at least a song or two.
These days I gig with at least 3 and usually 4 basses.
What I've found is that certain songs prefer different basses and even when I change basses its like my head/fingers are already expecting the feel and tone of that bass. So the transition is almost seamless.
The ironic part is when I go back to using my Jazz bass on a song that has demanded the Woody bass, that is when it feels uncomfortable. And dont even think about replacing the fretless on that bass' songs! :o
I've had some quite incredulous and even hostile reactions to coming to a gig with more than one bass. Like it's ok for the guitarist, but the bass player should manage with one. I always take 2 and either play one all the way through or swap at the break, depending how things are going and how I feel. I used to do midset swaps, but gave that up as we do very little classic rock now and I can drown out the guitarist on Sunshine of Your Love just as easily with the P.
Generally I can swap between basses ok, except when I had the EB3, which I think was more the neck dive than the scale. I make so many mistakes anyway, it's hard to tell. Depends a lot what distractions there may be in the audience.
Quote from: uwe on September 15, 2010, 06:11:35 AM
I have gigged with most over the years and rehearsed with them all. There is not a single bass I own I don't play once in a while (some more often and gladly of course).
How do you know? Must be like a shepherd keeping track of 250 sheep on a Yorkshire fell.
Blackberries don't have bass tracking apps, do they?
Quote from: PhilT on September 16, 2010, 07:33:07 AM
How do you know? Must be like a shepherd keeping track of 250 sheep on a Yorkshire fell.
Blackberries don't have bass tracking apps, do they?
Perhaps he's chipped each one like you can do with cats and dogs!
Hey, I know my basses!
Having a harem doesn't mean you don't have an eye for individual details!
(http://sheikyermami.com/wp-content/uploads/harem.gif)
I *think* one of your harem is a tranny :D
Quote from: TBird1958 on September 16, 2010, 11:48:21 AM
I *think* one of your harem is a tranny :D
Apparently, the onlookers have more of an eye for detail than the owner... :mrgreen:
;)
I have a finely developed Gaydar.......
Often part of thrill is being mistaken for a real girl, tho with me, that does not happen ;D
Ok, I give up, which tranny escaped the Sultan's sharp eye? :-\
Even the most innocent works of art are ruthlessly dragged here into your very own quagmire of innuendo and gender uncertainty!!! :mrgreen:
Quote from: uwe on September 16, 2010, 01:01:24 PM
Ok, I give up, which tranny escaped the Sultan's sharp eye? :-\
Why the Violet Thunderbird of course! ;)
Quote from: PhilT on September 16, 2010, 07:33:07 AM
Blackberries don't have bass tracking apps, do they?
;D
Phil's comments on (G word) reactions i can have sympathy with as I've had the same thing - sod em is my opinion - I'll play whatever I need to to get the sound I want to obtain; mind you, the Peter Cook is kind of weird now as the sound can be changed so radically (Mudbucker and RD humbucker) - love it...
Quote from: TBird1958 on September 16, 2010, 01:49:07 PM
Why the Violet Thunderbird of course! ;)
You can't go all coy now. It's either a large male member in that picture or a salami snack.
(http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff24/philtrory/Basschat/details1.jpg)
(Do you have Peperami in the US?)
(http://www.digitalstrategyconsulting.com/netimperative/news/peperami.jpg)
It's a bit of an animal... ;D
Wow, this thread really has me thinking. I'm a Libra, and that manifests with me balancing by having two collections in two different places! Most of my instruments are here with me in Oakland, CA:
Alembic custom Stanley Clarke Signature Standard
Gibson Les Paul Triumph
Guild Starfire I
Guild M-85 II fretless
Alembic Series I doubleneck
Gibson Melody Maker bass
Rickenbacker 4001 ATG (autumnglo)
Fender Japan Bass VI
Fender Japan Jazz
Fender Japan Stratocaster
So that's 9, plus a couple of few keyboards and the guitar listed.
Then I keep a few at a friend's house in Massachusetts:
Rickenbacker 4003S/8 JGBT
Rickenbacker 4003 JGBT
Fender Telecaster Bass
Gibson EB-2
Fender Japan Jaguar Bottom Master
That's another 5, so 14 basses!
I used to go out to Boston every year and do a lot of recording there - this year is the first time I haven't. So now I'm starting to think about thinning out the collection back east. Problem is, I hate to ask my friend to mail things out for me, or sell for that matter. It's not a great time to sell either. So my current idea is to, at some point, ship the 8-string back here so I can play it more. Down the line I might get rid of the EB-2 - haven't played it much the past few years, and I haven't been doing the mudbucker thing much lately. The Guild Starfire could go too - it's more of a collector piece and not so much an instrument that I use...
I see you balancing your two cultures being more you... mind you, the MAJOR for Librans is the decision thing... (hmm... do I sell or do I keep...?)
Shame to let those Ricky's sit there all unloved and unpolished (with those mirror-black fins 8)); there would probably be takers here (not me sadly) for the EB2 and Fender's (no disrespect) are ten-a-penny (where did that expression come from...?) If your friend is a good one they won't mind doing you the favour...
So Harry, what to do... decisions to make... ;)
(not to sure I like the sound of a "Bottom-Master" :o)
Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on September 17, 2010, 02:55:56 PM
(not to sure I like the sound of a "Bottom-Master" :o)
You DO like to wave a red flag at bulls, don't you???? ;)
Quote from: uwe on September 16, 2010, 01:01:24 PM
Ok, I give up, which tranny escaped the Sultan's sharp eye? :-\
Even the most innocent works of art are ruthlessly dragged here into your very own quagmire of innuendo and gender uncertainty!!! :mrgreen:
In - u - end - o?
That's Italian for...
Never liked Redbull myself... smells like cough (and drop) medicine...
Saw a tee in London recently with an ornately patterned word that crudely means female orifice in Italian... :o
Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on September 17, 2010, 04:39:36 PM
Never liked Redbull myself... smells like cough (and drop) medicine...
Saw a tee in London recently with an ornately patterned word that crudely means female orifice in Italian... :o
I don't understand twat you're saying. :)
My sister took A level Italian (exams that used to be taken in uk between age 17-18) as an evening course in college - as the course was for adults I was rather surprised to find that it had a section of "expressions never to use" - this was about as Monty Python as I've ever seen in my life - 4 pages of A4/Letter size book with just about every conceivable insult you could possibly imagine, and then some...!
I had to copy it, for reference purposes of course, as I used to do maintenance work in a lot of Italian restaurants - also got a good laugh or a wonderfully shocked expression when they realised it was from a British "school" book...
Quote from: lowend1 on September 17, 2010, 04:28:16 PM
In - u - end - o?
That's Italian for...
A popular Italian laxative!!
Quote from: lowend1 on September 17, 2010, 04:28:16 PM
In - u - end - o?
That's Italian for...
...........A really good time ;)
It's hard to stay inside and practice when the nice fall weather screams for all day motorcycle rides.
Quote from: Denis on September 19, 2010, 02:08:14 PM
It's hard to stay inside and practice when the nice fall weather screams for all day motorcycle rides.
FALL! Lucky stiff! ;D It's not 100 degrees here anymore but it's still hot and humid >:( We'll get our first tease of fall here in a couple of weeks :sad:
Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on September 18, 2010, 03:12:29 AM
My sister took A level Italian (exams that used to be taken in uk between age 17-18) as an evening course in college - as the course was for adults I was rather surprised to find that it had a section of "expressions never to use" - this was about as Monty Python as I've ever seen in my life - 4 pages of A4/Letter size book with just about every conceivable insult you could possibly imagine, and then some...!
I had to copy it, for reference purposes of course, as I used to do maintenance work in a lot of Italian restaurants - also got a good laugh or a wonderfully shocked expression when they realised it was from a British "school" book...
I can't tell you how much I need one copy Kenny. My italian friends would love me.
Quote from: Lightyear on September 20, 2010, 07:54:07 PM
FALL! Lucky stiff! ;D It's not 100 degrees here anymore but it's still hot and humid >:( We'll get our first tease of fall here in a couple of weeks :sad:
It was about 50 here in Colorado when I woke up today. I recall well that in College Station, it won't get under 90 in daytimes until the end of October. We had a couple of 90's in the last week, but evenings are cool. Sunday was in the 70's.
And my wife once again seems comfy with the number of basses I have...going to unload some other stuff to clean the room out a bit.
Quote from: exiledarchangel on September 21, 2010, 01:36:06 AM
I can't tell you how much I need one copy Kenny. My italian friends would love me.
I last saw it in '88... :o I did see my old work briefcase when rumaging in the loft recently and there might be a copy there... I'll do some digging...
I know some good (BAD) websites for such items... ;)
Quote from: Lightyear on September 20, 2010, 07:54:07 PM
FALL! Lucky stiff! ;D It's not 100 degrees here anymore but it's still hot and humid >:( We'll get our first tease of fall here in a couple of weeks :sad:
Although the evenings and mornings are pretty nice right now, it's still abnormally warm here; today it's supposed to be in the low 90s and that's not right. It's not humid and hasn't been and I don't think we've seen rain for a month. September is supposed to be one of our wettest months and we've gotten zip.
However, I digress. I might have one too many basses. Do I really NEED two Korean Epi T-birds?
Quote from: Denis on September 22, 2010, 05:48:58 AM
Do I really NEED two Korean Epi T-birds?
Of course you do. One strung with flats, the other with rounds. ;D
Quote from: the mojo hobo on September 22, 2010, 06:24:42 AM
Of course you do. One strung with flats, the other with rounds. ;D
Oddly enough, that's how they ARE strung!
Too many? I don't think so and I have a list of additions an' it isn't a short one...:)
(http://muusikoiden.net/dyn/users/81420.jpg)
Nice basses, Pekka! What is this one that looks sorta like a Epi Genesis or Pearl Export?
Love the Aria too- great use of that aircraft-landing-strip of a headstock :) (I have a old SB-Elite II)
Quote from: chromium on December 18, 2010, 10:33:52 AM
Nice basses, Pekka! What is this one that looks sorta like a Epi Genesis or Pearl Export?
Love the Aria too- great use of that aircraft-landing-strip of a headstock :) (I have a old SB-Elite II)
Hmmm, you mean the one between the Ric and the '76? It's a 32" Alembic -style bass built by Marko Ursin, the same guy who built the non-reverse copy on the floor.
The Aria SB was a 9-string before (eeE-aaA-ddD) but now has six strings tuned E-E. Like a Fender Bass IV but with a 34" scale.
EDIT: Here are the details of the whole lot:
The wall, from left:
1980's Aria SB 700 (heavily modded, see above)
2004 Waterstone TP-2 12-string (wired in stereo and with a Mikkihouse Charlie Christian bridge pickup)
1991 Rickenbacker 4003
2008 Marko Ursin MPUlembic
1976 Gibson Thunderbird
2008 Danelectro Longhorn
2006 Ville Tyyster custom Jazz Bass
1983 Squier Jazz Bass
The floor, from left
2001 Hamer CH-12 neck with a Marko Ursin built body (wired in stereo)
2004 Ville Tyyster Telecaster Bass
2010 Marko Ursin non-reverse Thunderbird (Mikkihouse pickups)
1980's Fender Jazz Bass Special fretless
The front
2009 Hagström HB-8 8-string
^^^^^^^^^^
Beautiful Basses and Guitars!
Hard for me to imagine too many of such lovely instruments :thumbsup:
Quote from: Pekka on December 18, 2010, 10:54:42 AM
Hmmm, you mean the one between the Ric and the '76? It's a 32" Alembic -style bass built by Marko Ursin, the same guy who built the non-reverse copy on the floor.
Yes -that's the one. Cool! What sort of pickups are in it?
I have one of Marko's brass harp bridges w/sustain block on my Guild, and had another 2-pc one that I ended up selling (plans for another Guild project faded...). His work is very meticulous.
Quote from: chromium on December 18, 2010, 11:00:08 AM
Yes -that's the one. Cool! What sort of pickups are in it?
It has Schaller Bassbuckers with 3-way switches (series/single/parallel). I have one extra Schaller in the drawer which I'm planning to install in the middle position. It has also LEDs at the neck.
Quote from: chromium on December 18, 2010, 11:00:08 AMI have one of Marko's brass harp bridges w/sustain block on my Guild, and had another 2-pc one that I ended up selling (plans for another Guild project faded...). His work is very meticulous.
Yeah, a great guy. I'm planning to do something with the Hagström at the front. A new body (been thinking about something in the lines of Guild Jetstar or Hagström Swede) and an 8 -saddle bridge and it won't be hard to guess who's services I'll be asking for...
I have many but they all get regular use. If you think about it collecting basses is no worse than any other hobby and with instruments if you've chosen wisely you have a valuable collection worth a lot of money.
Some amazing collections here.
MIne are as follows;
'75 MIA Fender Precision, Heavily modified - This was my first lefthanded instrument and is the bass that all others are judged by. I have had this bass almost my entire bassplaying "career" and it is my most treasured material possesion.
'83 Yamaha BB400 -bought it new as a replacement after my '75 Precision was stolen (amazing story that). Great bass.
Mid-80's MIJ Fender Jazz -My first Jazz and the only bass that truly rivals my '75.
2000s MIM Jazz
SX Jazz
Squier P-Bass Special, fretless
Warmoth PJ
Schecter Elite 5
Warmoth Rockbass Corvette
Woodshop Bass - Built it in high school woodshop. Short scale based on an Alembic Model I
Peavey MIA Foundation project bass
Warmoth Jazz 5 project bass
There are many others I'd like to have in my collection but in most cases they will have to be custom builds in order to have lefties so that will prevent me from ever approaching Uwe territory. :D
Quote from: Basshappi on December 19, 2010, 01:19:36 AM
... after my '75 Precision was stolen (amazing story that)...
Well...? :popcorn:
Nice collections...
My '75 Precision was my first lefthanded bass, I traded a Gibson RD Artist (my first pro quality bass) straight across for it. For the next several years it was my only bass. I did build a bass in high school woodshop but I didn't use it as a serious gigging instrument. I can't even begin to guess how many hours that Fender has spent in my hands, how many rehearsals and gigs.
Then one night while I was at the movies with my girlfriend, some @!#&^$*&^&# broke into my apartment and stole my Precision and my Fender Bassman 100 amp (still miss that amp). To say I was devastated would be a vast understatement. I searched every pawnshop and music store in town and called every one in the surrounding towns large enough to have any and left desciption and serial number, I even wrote a letter to Guitar Player magazine (which they printed in their Andre Segovia issue, still have that too :D)....no luck, it was gone.
This was in 1982 and I was living in Lubbock Texas at the time. Lefthanded instruments were nonexistant, the reason the music store had traded for my RD was they knew they would never be able to move a lefty bass, there was only one other lefthanded bassplayer in the whole county and he had traded the Precision against the purchase of a bass from some new-fangled company called G&L. I could not afford to order a new Fender or any other professional grade instrument for that matter and I was out an amp as well so my vaunted career as a musician was at a standstill. Fortunately I had my "woodshop bass" so I did some work on it and go it into decent playing condition and through the help of friends was able to borrow amps as needed to gig.
I saved money and bought a new Peavey MkIV amp, which I still use to this day, and I still had my Acoustic 2x15 cab so I was back in business. It was a few months later that one of the guys from the local music store called to tell me he had been in Dallas the weekend before and in one of the music stores he saw a lefthanded Yamaha bass. I called and they said they still had it (imagine that!) and so I drove to Dallas, 400 miles east, walked in and low and behold they TWO Yamaha BB400s! I played them both, bought the one that sounded the best and drove back home. I still have the Yamaha.
Six months later I moved to Tucson AZ. One day, about a year after I had relocated, I walked into a store called Rainbow Guitars which is still a fixture in the local scene here, to hang out and scope out all the cool gear (we all know how that is right :D). At the time their store was very long and narrow and all the guitars and basses were hung on one wall running the length of the store. I happened to notice the reverse headstock of a lefty Fender bass all the way at the back and walked back to check it out. Lefthanded instruments were still custom ordered at this time, stores didn't stock them. As I walked up to it I suddenly realized that it was MY PRECISION!!
I grabbed it off of the rack and the sales dude came over to give me a hard time because you were supposed to ask permission before handling any of the instruments. He took a step back when I turned around, I can only imagine the look on my face at the time because I was fully prepared to fight my way out of that store with my bass if need be! I told him, "This is MY bass, it was stolen from me over a year ago in Lubbock Texas and I can prove it"!! In fact I still had a piece of paper in my wallet that had the serial number written on it. He took the bass up to the counter and called over the manager who said that the police had to be notified of stolen property and I stayed there as he made the call. He told me that the bass was there on consignment and had been sitting in the back room for two weeks until they had room for it on the rack. I went home to get a copy of my original police report.
My girlfriend (I still have her too :D) thought I had gone completely nuts when I came crashing into the house screaming "It's here, I found it!!" over and over while tearing apart the place looking for the report and the copy of Guitar Player that had printed my letter. In the end I had to call the Lubbock PD to get another report faxed to the PD here but I took the magazine with me back to the store.
When I got back the police had already come and taken the bass. I showed everyone the letter in the magazine and they were as blown away as I was. I talked to the guy who had it there on consignment and he told me that he had bought it in a pawnshop in Oklahoma for $200 less than a year before. I was a typical poor musician, I offered to pay him what little I could afford but he refused and said that it was rightfully mine and that he was glad that I had gotten it back.
I went to the police department a few days later, signed some papers and took it home. I continued to gig with it for many more years until I hung up my spurs and stopped playing in bands. Several years later when I started gigging again I retired the Precision because I did not want to risk having her damaged or stolen. Now I use her to practice, at rehearsals or in the studio and I have been toying with the idea of taking her to gigs that I feel are secure enough. She is the best bass I have ever played and as much as I like my other basses, everytime I pick up my Precision it's like coming home.
Well, that "Dan's Incredible Bass Story" I hope it didn't bore you to tears.
That is a wonderful story! Incredible how you happened to be at the right place and right time to get your bass back.
I have three basses with stories.
My '63 P was bought by my parents in 1967, along with a '67 Bassman head (which I still have) and a 2x15 cab (which I sold a couple of years ago as I had no use for it.) It was originally Olympia White (I think), but it was rather chipped up so I had it repainted a Ford Metallic Gold color in 1972. About that same time, the truss rod in the neck broke on Saturday, and I had the neck replaced because I had a gig to play on Monday. I played the bass through 1973 when I graduated from WSU and went out into the world of work. My younger brother played it a few times, but it sat in its blonde tolex case in an unused bedroom until 1996, when my parents moved into a smaller house. That was take it or lose it time - so I took it. Unfortunately I had no way to move or store my King white plywood upright bass, so I had to sell it.
In any case, that bass was exactly as I had put it in the case 23 years before - and it re-awakened my interest in playing.
The other bass with a story is my '64 EB-0, which belonged to the husband of a good friend and co-worker. One day she mentioned that he had an old Gibson which had been sitting in its case for 20 years or so, as their son never got around to playing it. She offered to bring it to me and let me play around with it. Of course I said yes, and told her that I belonged to a forum which had some very good Gibson types on it, so I could get her a valuation on it. After a few days of careful play (the headstock had the typical partial break) I told her the accurate value I learned from this forum. Her husband let me know that he appreciated my research, and then made me an offer which was well under half the value I had estimated for it. I accepted, did the repairs and now it's a solid player.
There's one more - my early 70's Univox Sunburst 335-copy came from Laramie, WY about 80 miles from here. I spotted it on Ebay, but the auction included a Bassman head and 2x15 cab...both of which I already had. The price was high, so I emailed the seller and let him know that I'd be interested in the bass, but not the amp or cab. The auction got no bids, so he contacted me afterwards and it turned out he worked construction and was coming to Fort Collins the next week! He brought the bass and I brought cash - and I got the original factory case. It had belonged to his father in law who passed away - evidently he only used it for practice at home, because there's not a nick or scratch on it.
Additional basses:
Applause AE-40 Acoustic-Electric, short scale, nice for practice.
Aria Diamond Mosrite/Hi-Flyer copy (about to go on Ebay)
Dano '63 Reissue in surf green (about to go on Ebay)
Dearmond Jet Star, Moon Blue
Epiphone Jack Casady Goldtop bass
Fender MIM Jazz, Midnight Blue
Gretsch 2202 Electromatic Jr Jet
(Lotus?) Defretted/Fretless P/J bass, my own red/black 'burst finish
Rogue VB-100 "Beatle Bass"
Schecter Diamond C4XXX
Squier Bronco with Gretsch/TV Jones pickup
There's a lot of variety in there, but some of those are basses I neglect, which is why I'm selling a couple.
Dan,
Great story about your bass, very cool that it's with you!
Thanks guys, it really is an amazing bit of Karma. For some strange cosmic reason it seems as though that bass and I were meant to be together (cue cheesy 50's sci-fi theremin music) :D :D
I think you're right. GREAT story and a nice find.
Well worth the typing, Dan... well worth the typing... ;)
I presume you played a rightie RD in a reverse position - any pics of you playing - there has been some curiosity about a "reverse" RD some time back - my RD is still in the shed... :sad:
Was there ever a lefty RD...?
No, Gibson never made the RD (or many other basses for that matter) lefty.
There is an old high school newspaper photo of me with my band in which the bottom horn can be seen but no other pics, and I don't have a scan of that one.
As great as the RD was/is it was always one of those kinds of basses that are so ugly they look cool, believe me, upsidedown they lose the "cool". :D
Always nice to hear about a reunion like that when it comes to stories of theft. Wish that would more often be the case!
Are you still in Tucson? I used to frequent Rainbow, Guitars Etc, and the Chicago Store downtown when I lived there. Is that place still around? I remember wandering around upstairs there, and there were dusty piles of old gear, effects, etc... This was in the early 90s. I'd dig something out of a pile, and take it down to the owner and he'd always throw out some astronomical price... At that time those old pedals weren't worth very much, but now... well hopefully he made out pretty good on that stash!
great story Dan...thanks i neededthat. helps with my weak holiday spirit this year
Quote from: Pilgrim on September 12, 2010, 05:20:25 PM
I think I'm suffering from too many basses. Here's the current list:
1963 Precision
2000 MIM Jazz
Epiphone Jack Casady gold top
No-name (Possibly Lotus) P/J Fretless with tapewounds
1970's Univox hollowbody (short-scale)
1964 Gibson EB-0 (short scale)
Rogue VB-100 'Beatle Bass" (short scale)
Gretsch G2202 Electromatic Jr. Jet (short scale)
Squier Bronco bass (short scale)
'63 Danelectro Re-Issue, Surf Green
Aria Diamond (Hi-Flyer) Mosrite copy (short scale)
Applause (Ovation) AE-40 acoustic-electric (short scale)
And today I added a Schecter C-4, the only active bass in the group. I honestly can't play all the instruments I have, but they all have their own appeal. I've decided that since I'm moving from surf music into rock, I can sell the Danelectro and the Aria Musrite copy; at least they'll pay for the Schecter.
I have a tendency to be a collector, but I think that it would help me to spend more time playing the same - or similar - instruments just to eliminate one variable while I play. I have a tendency to miss chord changes, and if fewer things are distracting me, it may help.
Anyone in a similar situation?
CHANGING BASSES IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN CHANGING/ADDING WIVES.
I find that only if i change to a very different
feeling bass that it will take a few minutes to get confortable especially if it is a song i have some vocals parts in as i tend to not look down so a d may become an oops e on a long tbird type bass.. I make sure i never change before a big vocal tune..
Chromium - I can tell that you have actually been in the Chicago Store! It hasn't changed though I haven't been in there in almost a decade. http://www.chicagomusicstore.com/history.html
Appearently they are "organizing" the store, I might have to wander in for old times sake. :D
Rainbow Guitars is still there though they moved down the block a bit to a larger location. Thsy are probably the best equpped store in town after GC, not the little shop they used to be.
http://www.rainbowguitars.com/
Hey Dan, great story! You are blessed for sure. I can just imagine how you felt when you saw that!
Cool story Dan.
My Jazz bass has a kind of shorter story than that.
We were doing a gig at a pup in the northern area of Adelaide one night when I was about 17 or 18 years old and I had just rolled up for sound check with the guitarist in his van. We went inside and waited no more than 10 mins while the crew finished of their setup. We went out to grab my bass and the guitarists combo and guitars. (Spare bass and bass rig were in the truck). As I opened the pub door and looked outside I noticed that Shauns van was sitting about a car length back from where it was parked, blocking an aisle. Then I noticed that the old Holden station wagon next to the van had the back open and so did the van. Putting 2 and 2 together I started to run towards the cars As I did so a guy jumped into the old Holden and got her started and started to drive off.
I got there just in time to jump on the bonnet (Hood) of the Holden. Holding onto the wiper with my right hand I was screamin at the guy and swinging my left arm through the driverside window at him. He managed to back the car up a few meters and move fwd about 2 car lengths before a car entering the car park acidently blocked him off. Shaun cam running up as the guy slid accross the bench seat and jumped out the passenger side door and ran off with me after him at full pelt.
He got away. Probably a good thing for me as I had turned rabid. (one of the very few times in my life) :P
It seems he was unable to break the steering lock on the van so had had to move the gear into an older car that was easy to break into and steal. This delay is almost certainly what saved us from losing our instruments. A 67 Les Paul and a 74 Jazz bass and a Musicman 115RP EV combo.
All three items are still in our possesion, regularly played and treasured.